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贽 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
贽zhìtribute; a gift given to a superiorg, 10 strokes, radical 贝
贽zhìgifts to superiorsunknown, 10 strokes, radical 贝
zhì(zhi4) T4
  1. 1tribute; a gift given to a superior
  2. 2gifts to superiors
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March 24, 2026

贽(贄)zhì(zhi4)

贽 (zhì) refers to a tribute or gift given to a superior or someone in a higher position. This term is often used in formal contexts, such as during ceremonies or in traditional exchanges to show respect and honor. Understanding this term can enhance your grasp of social hierarchies and cultural etiquette in Chinese society.

Strokes10Radical贝
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, giving 贽 is a way to express gratitude and reinforce social bonds, especially during festivals or important events. It is also embedded in practices like '敬酒' (jìngjiǔ), where toasts are accompanied by gifts to signify respect.

Memory Tip

Think of 贽 as a 'gift of respect.' The character itself contains the radical for 'money' (贝), suggesting the value of the tribute, while the other component hints at the act of giving. Imagine a scenario where you present a beautifully wrapped gift to your boss to show your admiration.

Meanings of 贽

zhì(zhi4)
1tribute; a gift given to a superior
2gifts to superiors
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 贽

贽Simplified
贄Traditional
10Strokes
贝Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 贽

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Podcast: 贽

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AI Study Notes for 贽

Usage Notes

Be careful with the tone of your delivery when discussing 贽; it is typically used in formal situations. Common collocations include phrases that describe the act of giving tributes or specific types of gifts, like '贽品' (gift items). Avoid using it in casual contexts, as it may come off as overly formal or insincere.

HSK Study Tips

Although 贽 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects well with other words related to gifts (礼物 lǐwù) and respect (尊重 zūnzhòng), which may appear in HSK levels. Focus on the nuances of formality and hierarchy when learning this term, as they are vital in understanding social interactions.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 贽 with 礼物, using them interchangeably in casual contexts. Remember, 贽 is formal and implies hierarchy, while 礼物 is suitable for all occasions.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 贽

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Etymology of 贽

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

money

Semantic (meaning)贝
+
Phonetic (sound)执
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 贽

  1. 1The meaning half贝 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half执 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaymoney
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 贽? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 贽?

Decomposition of 贽

IDS Structure⿱执贝
贽Full Character
=
执zhi2
top
贝Bei4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 贽?

How to say tribute; a gift given to a superior in Chinese

“tribute; a gift given to a superior” in Chinese is贽zhì

贽 (zhì) refers to a tribute or gift given to a superior or someone in a higher position. This term is often used in formal contexts, such as during ceremonies or in traditional exchanges to show respect and honor. Understanding this term can enhance your grasp of social hierarchies and cultural etiquette in Chinese society.

When to use 贽

Be careful with the tone of your delivery when discussing 贽; it is typically used in formal situations. Common collocations include phrases that describe the act of giving tributes or specific types of gifts, like '贽品' (gift items). Avoid using it in casual contexts, as it may come off as overly formal or insincere.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 贽 with 礼物, using them interchangeably in casual contexts. Remember, 贽 is formal and implies hierarchy, while 礼物 is suitable for all occasions.

Write 贽

贽

Practice writing 贽 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 贽

Words Containing This Character2
李贽Li Zhi (1527-1602), late Ming philosopher, historian and writer李贄
贽zhìgifts to superiors贄
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 李贽 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 贽

While both refer to gifts, 贽 specifically implies a tribute given to a superior, highlighting respect, whereas 礼物 is a more general term for any gift.

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